Wobbly sign!

This damaged road sign was reported to the Street signage team.  They have initially made it safe and have promised to replace the sign shortly.

Graffiti

This box at the Grove Road Chadwell Heath Lane Junction has been reported to the Graffiti Cleaning team.

Words not Action! Con services ooops...I meant Conservatives!

In their recent newsletter the Conservatives claimed that they were responsible for removing the waste from 69 Shepherds Close. The house actually belongs to the London Borough of Newham and is used to house homeless people. The waste was bulky deposits that were left over from the internal renovation of the property.

I was shocked that the conservatives claimed they were responsible and so I called Redbridge General Cleansing as our taxes should not be used to remove the waste material from the renovation of Newham Council’s property in our borough. The General Cleansing team informed me that they were not responsible in an email a lead officer said:

"I have checked the System and we have no record of this"

I thought perhaps, that the Conservative Councillor may have asked Newham Council to remove the Rubbish. When I spoke to them they confirmed they had received no request and that the property was managed by their agents Letting International.

I contacted Lettings International and they have confirmed that no call had been made by Mr Munro and that the removal was part of the course of their normal building repair and clearance activity.

So the title of his main story seems a little misleading perhaps it should read “Words not Action” and “Gary saw it getting done!

See the fallacious article above.

Fighting Crime for a safer Chadwell!

The image above was taken on Monday 21st June 2010 after Wilson led the Redbridge Antisocial Behaviour Team around the crime hot spots in our ward.  The picture was taken at 23:20 and we apologise for the lack of image clarity - taken by Wilson's mobile phone.  The picture was taken at our last stop - the junction of Park Villas and Park Lane.

Phil Walby and Eloise (inset) ensured that Chadwell had an intensive week of patrols following the numerous reports of antisocial behaviour reported to me and which I cascaded onto the ASBO Team.

I expect a full report from the ASBO team tomorrow.

The ASBO team also temporarily installed a CCTV camera at Somerville Road for the week after our request.

I had not informed residents about my work by letter as I did not want to warn local perpetrators of crime.

Look out for Prowlers!

Whilst delivering letters on Freshwell Gardens this week I was informed by two residents that a young black man in his early 20's was seen searching in front gardens and checking to see if vehicles were left unlocked. The matter has been reported to the Police and they have made contact with the witnesses.

Some Residents of Canon Avenue have informed me that a bike has been stolen from their garden and that they have also seen Eastern Europeans delving through some waste in their side alley.  A bike has also been stolen form a property at Fields Park Crescent.

I have also received several reports (Donald Drive/Freshwell Avenue/Canon Avenue/Somerville Road) of rummaging through charity clothing bags. Please ensure you put your bags out on the day of collection to prevent such abuse/theft.

On Inverclyde Gardens a house was burgled whilst the homeowner was away for just 20 minutes. The owner was aware of the need to ensure that UPVC Doors should be closed by lifting his door handle and twisting his key but did not do so. It is believed that the perpetrator used a hard plastic card to open the lock and I would urge local residents to make burglary more difficult by ensuring the multi-lock facility on these doors is utilised.

Please be vigilant as burglaries and robberies have increased in recent times.

Curbing fox population

Practical advice for controlling fox ingress (received from Redbridge Council):


• put your rubbish out in closed containers, not plastic bags (dustbins available to purchase from the Customer Contact Centre on 0208 554 5000 )
• only put refuse out on the morning of collection
• do not leave food out for other animals, e.g. cats
• make sure food left out for birds is in an approved container
• make sure there are no areas where foxes can shelter, e.g. neglected areas, access under buildings etc
• use an animal repellent (available from DIY centres)

An advice line on dealing with foxes: 01933 411996

Wheel Clampers charging extortionate prices!

Many residents have expressed concern at the extortionate rates charged by LBS Enforcement the wheel clampers commissioned to regulate parking on South Road. Complaints received include:

• Allegations that residents are being charged for a tow truck despite no vehicle being towed away -Residents are uniformly advised that the tow truck has already been called and hence the additional charge is thrust upon them.

• 9 properties on Chadwell Heath Lane have an alleyway to the rear of their properties that can only be accessed via South Road. They have access rights as per their local property deeds.

• The wheel clampers are allegedly intentionally blocking vehicles in the road when they see a driver in the vehicle, so that they can apply a clamp.

With respect to your complaints we have contacted the Security Industry Authority the regulatory body responsible for Wheel clampers they have provided the following advice:

"Wilson, The current role of the SIA in this is quite narrow and does not cover e.g. behaviour of operatives or level of fees. We do require individuals to hold an SIA licence and there are conditions attached to the licence – in brief;


For Vehicle Immobilisers


In addition to holding a valid SIA licence, vehicle immobilisers must observe the following requirements:


A vehicle must not be clamped / blocked / towed if:


• a valid disabled badge is displayed on the vehicle.
• it is a marked emergency service vehicle which is in use as such.


Any licence holder who collects a release fee must provide a receipt, which must include the following:


• the location where the vehicle was clamped or towed.
• their own name and signature
• their licence number.
• the date.


Any failure to meet these conditions should be reported to the SIA through our website. If the company is an approved contractor then we can consider other sanctions but I assume that this is not the case.


New legislation was passed just before the general election which, in due course, can allow the SIA to licence vehicle immobiliser businesses and impose new conditions that could include scale of fees etc. However, this is still more than a year off. In the meantime Trading Standards may be able to help.”

Your Chadwell Green Team has produced an electronic petition for all residents of Redbridge to sign, that highlights these concerns and asks the SIA for a review of existing regulation. Please sign it by viewing:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-diabolical-development/

A call has been made to Grove Primary and we have asked that they repeat warnings in their school newsletter in future editions. They have agreed to do so for the foreseeable future.

We have also spoken to South Road residents and held a meeting with them. They are not willing to change the existing wheel clamping company as they believe that the company has been very effective in reducing their local parking burden. They have agreed to allow the 9 affected residents of Chadwell Heath Lane - with an alleyway to the rear of their properties accessed via South Road - the opportunity to unload and load their vehicle with deliveries to and from the rear of the properties. This will not allow permanent parking but will facilitate the access required under the property entitlement deeds.

“The right to drive their cattle, sheep or oxcart for access”

I can confirm that the South Road holds un-adopted status and as such is a private road. Hence the residents are well within their rights to sanction wheel clampers. I can also confirm that the residents do not earn a penny from the clampers and that they mean no malice to local residents. Please refrain from parking on South Road and find alternative locations to park your vehicles.

Meanwhile, your ridiculous Local Labour Councillors are seeking to install larger signs indicating the road is Private despite the fact that Highways Officers do not believe this will have any affect.

More money down the pan much like the ridiculous by-election that is costing tax payers in excess of £20,000!

Moreover, the request to the highways for the new sign to inform local residents that they will be charged for unauthorised parking is not permissible under law???!!  Besides it would result in a huge influx of unnecessary calls to the Highways Team, who will not be responsible for wheel clamping.

Some mothers do have them!

Evil portents!

Add insult to injury - why not highlight your deviant vandalism by painting arrows on the street?

I hope this omen fellow gets caught!

The omen strikes again!

The first image was taken from a telecoms box on Park Lane, The second from Canon Avenue and the last is obviously from Bede Road.  All have now been reported and will be cleaned soon.

Chadwell a place for the educational elite!

Many of you will be unaware of the great success of one of our local schools. Chadwell Heath Foundation School on Christie Gardens was named in the top nine in the country for its GCSE Success. An award was received from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust for the progress its students made between the ages of 11- 16.

Read more in the Ilford Recorder by clicking (here) - top left corner page 15.

Wonky Pole

Reported!

Signs of the Times

Isla Martin with the new sign in Shepherds Close.

For the history see below.

April 2010

May 2009

March 2009

Marriage bliss!

I received a disturbing comment on my blog from a resident concerned about untoward activity on Grove Road at 23:00 Friday 11th June 2010.  The comment was written as follows:

"There was also a mini " riot" on grove road last nite (11th june) where a group of young boys came bangin down a door causing the whole street to be up!!! Iron poles...... Exhaust pipes..... Garden equipment and eventually a knife came out with alot of verbal abuse goin back and forth @ 3am......... Police arrice and road was shut off- WHAT IS GOIN ON???? Any more info on ths would b apprieated?"

It transpires that the whole fracas was the result of a fight at a wedding (not sure of the Groom and Bride were involved -but the picture is a treat).  The Sgt Lowrie from our Chadwell Police said:

"....this was a wedding . There was an altercation and 4 males were arrested by police following a foot chase."

I hope this restores local confidence in the safety along Grove Road..... it would seem there is little to worry about.  Our Chadwell Police team are working very well in trying to address your local concerns.

More graffiti

Hall Road woes!

When will it all stop!

Portents of Evil!

I have reported the graffiti above - all found on Hall Road - to the Streetscene Team.  When will it all stop...?

This Omen fellow has written all over our ward, if you have information on the perpetrator, please contact our local Police team on 020 87621 2562. 

More Greens, Please

Above you see Wilson outside the locked gates of the underground car park of the Richmond Place Estate. This is an issue that Wilson has been campaigning on for some time now plus other issues with that estate. See below:

http://chadwellgreen.blogspot.com/2010/05/can-you-believe-car-parks-are-still.html

http://chadwellgreen.blogspot.com/2010/02/back-to-life-back-to-reality-thats-song.htm

http://chadwellgreen.blogspot.com/2009/09/tripe.html

http://chadwellgreen.blogspot.com/2009/08/richmond-estate-what-calamity.html

http://chadwellgreen.blogspot.com/2009/04/car-park-renovation-for-richmond-estate.html


Read the story in the Ilford Recorder here.

Some Greens, Please

Today Redbridge Council has announced that smart Electricity Monitors are available on loan from our Libraries. Good. For details see here. But other London Boroughs have been doing this for some time. In fact last years pilot study took the example set by Lewisham, (when it had several Green Party councillors), as its base. Redbridge does seem to get there in the end but it seems to follow rather than lead.

Last years introduction of kerbside green waste collection and the current pilot scheme for the collection of light cardboard packaging are both admirable. But they could have been done long ago. There just does not seem to be any enthusiasm or drive to set the scene, to be in the forefront of innovative new ways to enhance and improve the environment. It is all government target led – they do it only when they have to. So much so that Redbridge has been ranked down at the bottom of the London Borough league table for environmental achievement.

Chadwell residents now have the opportunity to change that, by voting Green at the by election on July 8th.

There is no point in voting for any of the other parties as it will not change the balance in the council chamber nor the stale ConDemLab cartel.

The Green Party now has an MP at Westminster. We have shown that a Green vote is not a wasted vote. Up and down the country, from Kirklees in Yorkshire to Stroud in Gloucester there are Green Party councillors challenging the moribund status quo of inactivity and driving the changes we so desperately need.

It’s time for Redbridge to GO GREEN.

Somerville Road - another alley nightmare!

Is this some new fangled rockery?

How did anyone put together this varied mess?

Close inspection would reveal a pushchair under the bush - hope the child is alright?

The litter in the three areas above are all located within the alleyway next to 2A Somerville Road.  I have asked the Streetscene Team to remove the unsightly mess and will report back to you.

Cleaner and Greener Chadwell!

The two images above show the return of grafitti to the garage at the end of Park Lane.  I have reported this to the Streetscene team and it will be remedied soon.

The image above shows the newly painted corrugated gates to 2 Park Lane.  You will remember no doubt that I mentioned the concern to our Streetscene team last summer.  However, due to the need of special paint (to prevent peeling and rust to the gates) using an external contractor, there had been a delay. 

I think the wait was worth waiting for... how about you...?

Stay out!

Above is an image of the secure fencing that is being installed to protect Chadwell allotments, from the trespassing that has resulted in significant antisocial behaviour and several arson attacks.  It can be seen that the strong cement slate fencing will be more of a deterrent than the former wooden trelace fencing before it.  Once completed the fencing will also be equipped with a number of anti-climb treatments. 

Funding for the scheme was provided by the work of Wilson and Isla Martin, in their lead roles, within the Redbridge Neighbourhood Watch Association.  If you would like to start a Neighbourhood Watch in your area please make contact.

No one messes with Chadwell!

This heap of rubble and debris has been left by an unruly neighbour who held a mass bonfire to the rear of properties at the A12 end of Somerville Road.  The area is part of communal wasteland that surrounds a series of car parks.  I have reported the matter to both the Streetscene Team and the Public Nuisance Team and will inform you of any response.  Having bonfire sis not illegal nor are their any time constraints, but for communal property such as this consent should be sought and any fire causing a nuisance can be stopped.  There is a responsibility to clear up any residual mess, especially in communal areas.

This damaged Green Telecoms is located on First Avenue in Chadwell.  I have reported it to the Streetscene Team.

A neighbour near 68 - 76 Shepherds Close has left this bulky waste out. 

A previous faulty image of the Aston mews alley way shows the Bulky waste that is being left here.  Since the picture was taken more has arrived.  I will resend the info to the streetscene team.

Problem Alleyway!

Awful mess!

The Aston Mews alleyway located at the High Road end of Reynolds Avenue is filled with litter.  Bizarrely in the image above you can see much of the mess is directly below the Redbridge Council waste deposit bin.  I am aware that Waste collectors are required to remove waste accidentally dropped as a result of their collection from the bin and will assume that the litter is either an oversight, or not a consequence of litter collection.  The alleyway also has a mattress and other bulky waste (image faulty) stuffed into it by a local flytipper.  I will seek a clearance operation from the General Cleansing Team. 

The alleyway is said to be blighted by significant antisocial behaviour and drug dealing.  Local residents have asked for more surveillance in the area and I have cascaded this information to both the Local police and ASBO Team.

Chadwell by-election date finalised!

Should this be bungling Ilford South Labour's new logo!

Today Redbrige Council has declared the date for the Chadwell by-election.  The date will be the 8th July 2010.  Estimated costs from the two previous by-elections are closer to £12,000 than the meagre £6000 that Labour Councillor's estimated.  An email from the lead officer in electoral registrations confirmed the costs of the two previous by-elections:

"With regard to costs for this election I do not have these available but can supply details of the costs for the last two by-elections as follows:

Valentines Ward - £12482.00 in January 2009
Wanstead Ward - £11278.00 in April 2009

Your Chadwell Green Team does not believe local taxpayers should have to pay for the Labour error.  We have set up a petition asking for the Labour Party to foot the bill for their error  please sign it by clicking (here).